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C. A, BRIDGBWATBR.

K EARTH MOVBR. No. 490,243. Patented Jan. 17, i893. Y

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NITED STATES PATEN CHRISTOPHER A. BRIDGEVATER, OF RUSHVILLE, ILLIOIS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO ALBERT B. LAWLER, OF SAME PLACE.

EARTH-MOVER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 490,243, dated January 1*?, 1893,

Application filed April 5,1892. Serial No. 4Z 7,959 (N0 IDOBL) To a/ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, CHRISTOPHER A. BRIDGE- WATER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Rushville, in the county of Schuyler and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Dirt-Mover, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to dirt movers; and it has for its objectto provide an improved device for moving or carrying dirt in the construction of Wagon or railroad beds, for making embankments or dumps of any kind, and also is designed to be employed in removing dirt from excavations of any description and generally speaking, the device can be used in any place and for any purpose that ordinary scraping machines are employed and in many uses in which Scrapers cannot be employed.

1With these and many other objects in view which will readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated and claimed.

In the accompanying drawingsz-Fignre l is a perspective view of a dirt mover in the position of operation. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same.

Referring to the accompanying drawings A represents my improved dirt mover or carrier which comprises a number of parallel slats B loosely connected with and along side of each other in the manner to be described. The said slats are constructed of any suitable material and in such lengths to suit the exigencies of the case, and the entire device is also preferably made in sections and can be used in lengths to suit the various distances it may be required to move the dirt. The said slats B are held together by means of the hinging and securing chains or ropes C. The said chains or ropes C are passed over and under each slat from one end of the device to the other, and cross each other between the slats, so-that the same may be said to be hinged to each other and to allow one end of the rolling bed or carrier composed of said slats, to be rolled or carried over the entire length of the slats, to move the dirt as will be presently described.

The end slats at the point at which the dirt is to be carried or dumped is to remain fixed at such a point, while the opposite slat or slats at the opposite end of the carrier are designed to receive the dirt to be carried and to be rolled over the entire series of slats to the fixed end of the carrier, at which point the dirt will be rolled onto the dump. At said moving end of the carrier or mover the chains C terminate in draft loops or chains E, to which are connected to double trees E', to which the teams are hitched to operate the device. The portions of the chains or ropes C passing directly under and over each slat are held thereto by means of the fastening bolts F passing through the chain and the slats and clamped above and-below the chains, thus strengthening the entire structure and rendering the same more durable.

It is thought that the use and operation of the described carrier are now apparent. In carrying the dirt to a particular point or dump in constructing embankments or road beds, the device is dragged on the ground to the point where the same is to be used, so that the end slat opposite to the moving end is at the point where the dirt is to be deposited, and said opposite moving slat, to which is connected the double tree, is at the point from which the dirt is received and removed. The horses hitched to the doubletrees are turned around and stand abreast upon the rolling bed or carrier and facing the dumping end of the same. YVhere it is convenient, a plow is drawn along by the side ofthe end Slat to be carried over the entire bed, and a furrow of dirt is thrown upon said slat and the slats lying adjacent thereto. The plowing can be repeated until more dirt has been thrown onto the bed. The team is now started and walked over the rolling bed which will cause the moving end of the bed to be rolled toward the discharging end and thus roll the dirt therewith While the team is moving. Vhen the dirt reaches the fined end slat, the team and the slat to which they are connected will be the same distance from the dump and the fixed end-Slat, on the opposite side of the dump, as when originally started, so that the operation above described can be repeated IOO andanother load of dirt brought back to the dump from said opposite side, thus providing for rolling up the dirt from either side alt-ernately. In removing the dirt from cellars or ditches the dirt is thrown on the rolling bed and is drawn np out of the cellar or ditch and deposited in a manner similar to that de scribed, it being` of course understood, that Where the ascent is too steep for the animals to Walk, steam or other suitable power may be used for rolling the bed,and that the fixed end slat may be suitably anchored.

The construction, operation and many advantages of the herein described rolling bed are apparent Without further description.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent isgf l. A dirt mover comprising a series of parallel slats loosely connected with each other to form a rolling bed, substantially as set forth.

2. A dirt mover comprising a series of parallel and adjacent slats hinged to each other to form a rolling bed, one end of which is adapted to move over the bed toward the opposite stationary end thereof, substantially as set forth.

3. In a dirt mover, the combination of a series of parallel and adjacent slats arranged alongside of each other, chains or ropes passing over and under the slats from end to end and intercrossing between each slat to form a rolling carrier bed, and means for moving one end of the bed toward and over the opposite stationary end thereof, substantially as set forth.

In testimony thatI claim the foregoing aS my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of tWo Witnesses.

CHRISTOPHER A. BRIDGEWATER.

Witnesses:

H. C. SoHULTz, GEORGE S. GREER. 

